Wardrobe-trulirk



H. H. DYKE.

WARDROBE TRUNK.

APPLICATmN FILED ocT. 2s, wxs.

HERBERT H. DYKE, or ivioNToLAI'E., NEw JERSEY.

WAEDEOBELTE'iiiTjK.

Specification of Lettersiatent. Patented May i3, `1919.`

Application flied october 26,1918. serial No. 259,769;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT H. DYKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in "Wardrobe-Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wardrobe trunks.

The object of the invention is the pro? vision in a wardrobe trunk of improved supporting means for garment hangers adapted to be suspended at or near each end.

These hangers are supported on a frame which comprises across bar and a pair of projecting arms, both on the same side` of the `cross bar, to receive and sustain the hangers. a a

This frame is pivotally supported, at or near its center, on means, such as a slide piece, adapted to be moved in and outI with respect to the wardrobe compartment of the trunk at or near the middle of the upper end of such compartment. piece is` used, it is mounted in a suitable slide-way which may be provided in the upper end ofthe wardrobe compartment of a the trunk, and suchslide-way is preferably arranged at such an angle that the outward movement of he slide piece on the frame carries the compartment of the wardrobe trunk, leaving ample room for access thereto, as for the opening of drawers arranged therein or the like.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wardrobe trunk opened and set on end and showing the garment hanger supporting frame pulled out and turned to a position which gives ready access both to the garment hangers and to the remaining .trunk coinpartment. A. garment hanger is shown in position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top view of the trunk shown in Fig. 1 and shows sev-` eral positions of the hanger supporting frame in dotted lines. `Fig. 3 is a `bottom plan view of the slide-way. Fig. 4 is a side view of the slide piece with the cross bar of the garment hanger supporting frame shown in cross section. The relative position of the `slide-Way is indicated in dotted lines in this view. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of When a slide frame away from the remaining the s lide piece, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional deieil view taken on the lines `6--6, Figs. 3 an 4.

10 is the wardrobe compartment ofthe trunk and 11 a compartment for storage of miscellaneous articles. The compartments l() and 11 are hinged together. The `cornpartinent 11 is here shown as provided with a set of drawers l2. 13` is an adjustable holding bar for compressing 'garments in the wardrobe compartment, with which wardrobe trunksare customarily equipped.

A slide-way 14 may besecured in any suitable way to the inner face of the end wall 15 of the wardrobe compartment l0, and when the trunk is so constructed that a metallic iiange piece 16 runs around the outside of the wardrobe section, such metal strip or band may be utilized in iirmly securing the slide-way into place, as by riveting through or the like.` `The slide-Way member 14 may be stamped from 'flatmetal a ward portion 18.' The rearend of the slideway member 14 is preferably formed at` an angle` about as shown at19,.Fig. 3to fit substantially closely against the rear wall of the wardrobe compartment, and its forward end 20 may be square, as shown, if desired.

The slide piece 21 has a sliding fit within the slide-way. At its rear end itis provided with` a stop means for limiting its withdrawal with respect to the slide-way, as, for example, a downwardly extending lug 22 may be provided of proper width to` run in` the wider portion 17 of the slot in the slideway. Thislug 22 may be arranged at the same angle as the rear portion 19 of the slide-way,` and y the forward end of the slot portion 17 also be at the same angle, as is likewise shown in Fig.` 3. The garment .supporting frame is pivotally connected to thelslide piece 21 at its forward end. In the form shown the slide p-iece 21 is provided with a downwardly extending stubshaft 23 of a size adapted to move in the narrower slot portion 18, as' shown in Fig.` 6. When constructed as illustrated, the slide piece 21 is assembled with the slide-way 14 by being inserted therein from the rear. The holes 14, 14 in the bottom turned-over portion of the slide-way 14,

vgive strength. The frame itself is substantially of flat U-form when viewed in plan. rlhe arms 26 may be provided with upturned portions 27 attheir ends to prevent the garments sliding off. Vhere the cross bar 25 is journaled on the stub shaft 23, a block 28 may be linserted within the U-bar from which the frame is constructed, and a bore 29 is made therethrough in which the stub shaft 23 is received, permitting the garment hanger frame to pivot freely on the slide piece 21. The frame 24is so placed in the wardrobe compartment as to give ample clearance over the upturned end portions 27 and` any hangers and garments when in place on the arms 26. This may be accomplished by bending the frame downwardly at or near its ends 'or by placing a thick ring or washer (not shown) on the stub shaft 23 between the frame and Vslide piece, or in other ways.

Locking means for fastening the garment hanger frame firmly in place when thetrunk isj closed VLfor transportation are desirable to be provided, and also it is desirable to have a handle for moving the fra-me and slide piece with'its burden of garments in and out of thewardrobe compartment. In the construction illustrated this has been done by providing a preferably elliptical ring 30 which is vtapped out and screwed on the threaded end of the stub shaft 23, and such ring serves as a convenient hand hold and lalso, when screwed up, serves to lock the frame in place. Means are preferably provided for preventing the ring 30 from being j unscrewed offthe stub` shaft 23, and in the form shown the shaft 23'is bored and tapped for the reception of ascrew or bolt 31, and when this bolt is screwed up tightly, as by means of a wrench, its head serves as a stop tolimit' the extent to which the ring 30 may be '.unscrewed. The threads of bolt 31 and ring 30 may be made relatively right and left handed, if desired, to prevent the bolt being unscrewed upon unscrewing the ring.

The slide-way 14 preferably projects out of the wardrobe compartment 10 about as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to give a desirably A large extent of sliding action for the slide piece21, and a pocket 32 may be provided for the reception of such projecting portion on the inside of the end wall 15 of the trunk section 1l, and lin this way the projecting portion of the slide-way 14 serves to assist in maintaining proper alinement and fit of the two trunk sections while being closed and after the trunk is shut.

The operation of garment supporting devices in accordance with the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description. Garments on hangers are placed on the fully exposed arms 2G when in open positions, such as shown in dotted lines at a and I) in Fig. 2, and to insert same in place in the wardrobe compartment the frame is turned so that the arms 26 point substantially rearwardly and then slid back in the compartment b y means of the handle 30 until the dotted line position marked 0 is reached. By giving the handle 30 a turn or two to screw it up on the stub shaft 23 and securely hold it in place, the frame, with is burden of garments, is tightly and securely locked in place by being screwed up against the slide-way and there is no danger of its getting loose, as may happen when the use of snap catches or the like is resorted to. To expose the garments so that they may be taken off, the frame is drawn out by the handle 30 (after first being unscrewed if it has been screwed up) and the frame turned on its pivot to any desired position, as, for example, to dotted line positions a or shown in the drawing. Position a is one which is particularly good for putting on and taking off hangers with their garments, since the arms 26 project forwardly toward a person approaching the trunk and access thereto may be had directly and immediately. Position b is one in which the frame and its burden of garments are entirely out of the way when access to the drawers 12 of the compartment 1l is sought, and there is at the same time ready access to the garment hanger supporting frame, and it will be observed that by arranging the slide-way so that it forms an obtuse angle with the face of the wardrobe section on that side of the slide-way toward the trunk section 11, the garment hanger supporting frame, when moved outwardly on its slide-way, is at the same time moved away from the trunk compartment 11, and when withdrawn to or substantially to the full extent permissible, the garment hanger supporting frame may be turned practically through an entire circle, giving access thereto from a large number of different positions. The frame being supported at the middle, and all the supporting members being comparatively short,

material for con- I claim:

-l. Ina wardrobe trunk, the combination with a storage compartment and a wardrobe compartment hinged thereto of a frame comprising arms adapted :tor supporting hangers in the neighborhood of their ends, said frame being movable in a rectilinear direction in and out of said wardrobe compartment at an angle substantially ldiierent from` a right angle7 whereby as it is moved outward it is also moved away from that side of the wardrobe compartment which is hinged to the storage. compartment and toward the opposite side of the wardrobe compartment, said frame also being separately rotatable on a pivot.

2. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination with a storage compartment and a wardrobe compartment hinged thereto of a slide-way in said wardrobe compartment and located at `about the middle of the upper end thereof7 the forward end of said slide-way being directed at an angle away from the side of the wardrobe compartment which is hinged to the storage compartment and toward the opposite side of the wardrobe compartment, a slide piece slidable in and out in said slide-way, and a :trame pivoted at about its middle to the outer end of said slide piece, said frame comprising arms adapted for the support of garment hangers in the neighborhood of their ends.

3. In a Wardrobe trunk, the Combination with ia storage compartment and a wardrobe compartment hinged thereto of a slide-wayv in said wardrobe compartment and located. at about the middle of the upper end thereof, the forward end ot said slide-way being directed at an angle substantially different from a right angle away from the side of the wardrobe compartment which is hinged to the storage compartment, and toward the opposite side of the wardrobe compartment, a slide piece slidable in and out in said slide-way, a frame pivoted at about its middle to the upper end oi said slide piece, said trame comprising arms adapted for the support of garment hangers in the neighbor-- hood of the ends thereof, and means for' locking said trame in place on said slidepiece when retracted'.

e. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination. with a storage compartment and a wardrobecompartment hinged thereto of a slide-way in said wardrobe compartment and located at about the middle of the upper end there-- of, the forward end of said slide-way beino'- directed at an angle away from the side o the wardrobe compartment which is hinged to the storage compartment and toward the opposite side of the wardrobe compartment .the wardrobe compartment which is hinged a slide piece slidable in said slide-way and provided at its outer end with a downwardly projecting `threaded stub shaft, a iframe comprisingarms for supporting garment hangers in the neighborhood of their ends and provided at about its middle with a bore for receiving said stub shaft, and an internally threaded member on said stub shaft, said member being adapted, when screwed up, for locking the frame in pla-ce within the wardrobe compartment.

5. In a `wardrobe trunk, the combination with a storage compartment and a wardrobe compartment hinged thereto of a slide-way in said wardrobe compartment and located at about the middle of the upper end thereof, said slide-:way being directed at its forward end at an angle away from the side of to thestorage compartment, a slide piece slidablle in said slide-way and provided at its outer end with a downwardly projecting threaded stub shaft, a frame comprising arms for supporting garment hangers in the neighborhood of their ends and provided at about its middle with a bore for receiving said stub shaft, and a ring shaped member providing a hand hold and having a screwthreaded aperture therein whereby it is threaded on said stub shaft, said ring shaped member serving both as a handle for moving the frame and slide piece in and out, and when screwed up serving for looking the frame and slide piece in place in the wardrobe compartment. t

6. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination with a storage compartment and a wardrobe compartment hinged thereto of a slide-way iin said wardrobe compartment and located 100 `at about the middle of the upper end thereof, said slideway projecting forwardly beyond the wardrobe compartment, a Jframe .slidable in and out in said slide-way for supporting garment hangers, and a pocket 105 in the upper end of the storage ucompartment A,tor receiving the projecting portion of said islide-way when the trunk is closed to thereby secure correct .alinement of the trunk compartments during and after closing.

7. In a wardrobe trunk, a garment support slida'ble in and out therefrom and rotatable on a pivot, and a substantially ring- ;shaped member screwed on said pivot and .serving as a hand hold to move the frame 115 Vin and out, and when screwed up serving :as a lock-to hold the `frame firmly in retracted position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereto set my hand, this 24th day of 120 October, 1918.

HERBERT I-I. DYKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommssioner of Patents. Washington, D. GR 

